Toboggan

ABSTRACT

A snow toboggan formed from a sheet of foldable water resistant material, preferably a synthetic plastics material by cutting scoring and folding a blank. The toboggan comprises a flat base, two upstanding side walls joined to the base along fold lines and a front wall which is also joined to the base along a transverse fold line and which bears against the outwardly and forwardly inclined front edges of the side wall. A flap is joined along a fold line to the upper edge of the front wall along a fold line and the flap is folded rearwardly and downwardly so as to interengage with the side walls. Preferably the side walls and the flap are slotted and the interengagement of the slots retains the side walls in the upright position. Additional retaining means in the form of lugs on the side walls which are secured to the flap can also be provided.

United States Patent [1 1 Davies [451 Aug. 14, 1973 1 TOBOGGAN [76]Inventor: Derek Davies, 17-19 W. Ferry Rd.,

London E14, England [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 188,177

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 12, 1970 Great Britain48,457/70 [52] US. Cl. 280/18 [51] Int. Cl 1362b 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch 280/18, 19, 12 R;

' D34/l5 AK [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D208,869 10/1967Guastini D34/15 AK 3,484,801 12/1969 Carlin 280/18 3,034,800 /1962Campbell... 280/18 3,432,181 3/1969 McKee 280/18 Dl81,330 /1957 YagerD34/15 AK Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-Robert R.Song Attorney-Hopgood and Calimafde Sandoe ABSTRACT A snow tobogganformed from a sheet of foldable water resistant material, preferably asynthetic plastics material by cutting scoring and folding a blank. Thetoboggan comprises a flat base, two upstanding side walls joined to thebase along fold lines and a front wall which is also joined to the basealong a transverse fold line and which bears against the outwardly andforwardly inclined front edges of the side wall. A flap is joined alonga fold line to the upper edge of the front wall along a fold line andthe flap is folded rearwardly and downwardly so as to interengage withthe side walls. Preferably the side walls and the flap are slotted andthe interengagement of the slots retains the side walls in the uprightposition. Additional retaining means in the form of lugs on the sidewalls which are secured to the flap can also be provided.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures A Q r"? N T 24,2N 39 "f \u I641 34PAIENIEmusM nan I 3752492 sum 1 0F 2 PAIENIEMUG I4 1973 3; 752.1492

' sum 2 0F 2 w Z 4 0/ v ,M ///W TOBOGGAN BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Thepresent invention is concerned with snow toboggans or sledges and moreparticularly relates to a snow toboggan or sledge which is made from asheet of foldable material such as a sheet of extruded corrugatedplastics material.

Hitherto, toboggans for children have been made from wood and sometimesprovided with metal runners but this type of toboggan although it mayhave a relatively long life is expensive to manufacture because of thehigh cost of the materials and labour reguired.

It has also been proposed to manufacture a childs toboggan from asynthetic plastics material as a one shot injection moulded shell.However, this method again results in a relatively expensive productbecause of the high capital cost of the moulding equipment and theamount of raw material required to produce an end product having therequired strength.

The present invention overcomes the problem of cost by employing afoldable synthetic plastics sheet material which is readily available ata relatively low cost. By cutting and folding a blank of the sheetmaterial in the correct way the end product has the necessary strengthand rigidity. At the same time, the cut and scored blanks can betransported in the flat with a very substantial saving in transport andpackaging costs.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to one aspectof the presentinvention, I provide a toboggan formed from a unitary sheet of foldablematerial so as to comprise a substantially flat rectangular base, twoupstanding side walls joined to the longitudinal edges of the base alonglongitudinal fold lines and formed with front edges inclined forwardlyand outwardly from the base, a front wall joined to the front edge ofthe base along a transverse fold line and bearing against the frontedges of the side walls and a flap joined to the upper transverse edgeof the front wall along a transverse fold line and having a horizontalportion extending across the upper edges of the side walls and aretaining portion, wherein each side wall is formed with a first slotextending into its upper edge adjacent its inclined front edge and theretaining portio'ri'of the flap is formed with a pair of spaced secondslots in its transverse leading edge, the retaining portion of the flapbeing folded about a transverse fold line so as to interengage with theside walls with the said first slots in the side walls slotted into thesaid second slots in the retaining portion to secure the retainingportion and the side walls together.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each side wall includes a lugfolded inwardly and beneath the said horizontal portion of the flap andmeans are provided for mechanically attaching the said lugs to the saidhorizontal portion of the flap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cut blank fromwhich to toboggan of the present invention is constructed;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of a toboggan according to the present inventionformed from the blank of FIG; 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the toboggan of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a section through the material used forthe blank shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 2 and 3 a toboggan isindicated generally at 10 which is formed from the blank 11 shown inFIG. 1. The blank 11 is cut to the shape shown in FIG. 1 from a sheet ofcorrugated plastics material, for instance a polypropylene which iscommercially available in the United Kingdom under the trade nameHammarpac.

This material which is illustrated in FIG. 5 is waterproof and thereforenot damaged in any way by contact with snow or slush and provides anextremely smooth outer surface which will slide readily over packedsnow. It can be creased both in the direction of the corrugations andperpendicular to the corrugations but in order to achieve an effectivecreasing and bending in a direction perpendicular to the corrugations itis ad vantageous to form a slit on the convex side of the crease or bendpartially through the material.

The toboggan 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a substantially flatbase 12 lying between two parallel v longitudinal crease lines 13 and 14which run perpendicular to the corrugations in the material. On eachside of the base 12 are upstanding side walls 15 and 16 which are joinedto the base along the fold lines 13 and 14 and which increase in depthfrom the back end of the toboggan towards the front end. The front endedges 15a, 16a of the side walls 15 and 16 extend outwardly andforwardly of the base 12 and are curved to form abutments and supportfor the front wall of the toboggan. Slots 17 and 18 are formed in theupper edges of the side walls 15 and 16 respectively at an angle of 45to 60 to the fold lines 13 and 14 and spaced from each slot 17 and 18flaps l9 and 20 respectively are sheared from the side walls to formhand holds for the user of the toboggan.

Adjacent the slots 17 and 18 respectively, each side wall is formed witha lug 21 and 22 respectively which is adapted to be folded inwardly.Each lug 21 and 22 has a hole 23 and 24 respectively to receive a stud.

A front wall 25 extends across the front end of the sledge 10. In theblank 11 the front wall 25 forms a continuation of the base 12 and isjoined to the base along a transverse fold line 26. The front wall 25 isformed with a plurality of transverse crease lines 27 which extendtransversely of the base 12 and along the line of the corrugations inthe material to enable the front wall 25 to be curved upwardly toconform to the curvature of the end edges 15a and 16a of the side walls15 and 16.

The front wall 25 is joined along a fold line 28 to a flap 29 whichcomprises a horizontal portion 30 adjacent the front wall 25 and aretaining portion 31 which is joined to the horizontal portion along atransverse fold line 32. Two slots 33 and 34 extend into the transverseend edge 35 of the flap, approximately at right angles thereto.

In order to assemble the toboggan 10 from the cut and creased blank 11,the side walls 15 and 16 are folded upwardly at right angles to the base12, the lugs 21 and 22 are folded inwardly of the side walls 15 and 16into an approximately horizontal plane, the front wall 25 is foldedupwardly against the end edges 15a and 16a so as to conform to thecurvature of the end edges and the flap 29 is folded back and theretaining portion 31 interenegaged with the side walls, with the slots33 and 34 sliding into the slots 17 and 18.

In this assembled position, the retaining portion 31 of the flap 29holds the front ends of the side walls 15 and 16 in an upright positionand the horizontal portion 30 of the flap 29 rests on the lugs 21 and22. Apertures 36 and 37 are formed in the horizontal portion 30 andalign with the apertures 23 and 24 in the lugs. In order to firmlysecure the flap 29 in position, headed studs 38 and 39 are passeddownwardly through the aligned apertures 23,36 and 24,37 to secure theflap 29 to the lugs 21 and 22.

In order to strengthen the front end portions of the side walls 15 and16 stiffening panels 40 and 41 are preferably adhered to the insidefaces of the front end portions of the side walls. Each stiffening panel40 and 41 is complementary in shape to the front end portion of itsassociated side wall and is formed with a slot 42,43 respectively whichaligns with the slot 17 and 18 respectively.

In order to protect the upper edges of the side walls 15 and 16 and alsoto provide a smooth hand hold, plastics beadings 44 and 45 are clippedon to the upper edge portions of the side walls.

The toboggan is now ready for use and provides a lightweight tobogganwhich is readily handled by children and which, by virtue of thematerial used, has a low co-efficient of friction on packed snow whilebeing highly resistant to moisture.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the side walls and 16 tend to flatten outtowards the horizontal at the trailing end of the toboggan and thistendency can be reduced by slotting the outer skin of the material alongthe fold lines 13 and 14.

The number of crease lines 27 formed in the front wall can be varied,provided that a sufficient number of crease lines are provided toproduce a relatively smooth curve. The crease lines 27 are preferablyformed by scoring the outer liner of the material with perforating itand this method can also be used for the fold lines 13 and 14.

If a permanent fixture of the flap 29 is required, then the lugs 21 and22 can be adhered to the undersurface of the horizontal portion of theflap. Alternatively, the lugs 21 and 22 can be stapled, pinned or spotwelded on to the horizontal portion of the flap.

It will be appreciated also that the blank 11 can be formed with thefold lines 13 and 14 running parallel with the corrugations in the sheetmaterial in which event the transverse fold lines will run at rightangles to the corrugations.

Further minor modifications can be made to the above describedembodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionwhich is best described in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toboggan formed from a unitary sheet of foldable material so as tocomprise a substantially flat rectangular base, two upstanding sidewalls joined to the longitudinal edges of the base along longitudinalfold lines and formed with front edges inclined forwardly and outwardlyfrom the base, a front wall joined to the front edge of the base along atransverse fold line and bearing against the front edges of the sidewalls and a flap joined to the upper transverse edge of the front wallalong a transverse fold line and having a horizontal portion extendingacross the upper edges of the side walls and a retaining portion,wherein each side wall is formed with a first slot extending into itsupper edge adjacent its inclined front edge and the retaining portion ofthe flap is formed with a pair of spaced second slots in its transverseleading edge, the retaining portion of the flap being folded about atransverse fold line so as to interengage with the side walls with thesaid first slots in the side walls slotted into the said second slots inthe retaining portion to secure the retaining portion and the side wallstogether.

2. A toboggan as claimed in claim 1 and including means for resistingwithdrawal of the retaining portion of the flap from the side walls.

3. A toboggan as claimed in claim 2, wherein each side wall includes alug folded inwardly and beneath the said horizontal portion of the flapand said means com prises means for mechanically attaching the said lugsto the said horizontal portion of the flap.

4. A toboggan as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means comprises twostuds, each of which extends through the horizontal portion of the flapand through a lug to attach the horizontal portion of the flap to thelugs.

5. A toboggan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said first slots in theside walls are inclined at an angle of 4560 to the said longitudinalfold lines.

6. A toboggan as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said end edges of theside walls are curved and the front wall is correspondingly curved.

7. A toboggan as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffening panel isprovided adjacent the front edge of each side wall and complementary inshape with the front portion of the side wall, each stiffening panelbeing provided with a slot which interengages with the flap and eachstiffening panel being adhered to the inside face of the side wall.

8. A toboggan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said sheet material isa synthetic plastics extruded, corrugated material.

9. A toboggan as claimed in claim 8 wherein the said longitudinal foldlines are arranged at right angles to the corrugations in the material.

10. A toboggan formed from a unitary blank of foldable sheet material soas to comprise a substantially flat, rectangular base, two upstandingside walls joined to the longitudinal edges of the base alonglongitudinal fold lines and having front edges inclined outwardly andforwardly of the base, a front wall joined to the front edge of the basealong a transverse fold line and bearing against the front edges of theside walls, a lug integral with the upper edge of each side walladjacent the saidfront edge thereof and folded inwardly of the sidewall, and a front flap joined to the upper transverse edge of the frontwall and folded back so as to interengage with the side walls to retainthe side walls in a spaced upright position, the width of the flap beinggreater than the spacing of the side walls whereby spaced portions ofthe flap overly the respective upper edges of the side walls, said flapportions being mechanically attached to the said respective upper edgesat said lugs.

11. A toboggan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the side walls and theflap are slotted so as to interengage.

12. A toboggan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said flap is attachedto each lug by a stud.

I l l

1. A toboggan formed from a unitary sheet of foldable material so as tocomprise a substantially flat rectangular base, two upstanding sidewalls joined to the longitudinal edges of the base along longitudinalfold lines and formed with front edges inclined forwardly and outwardlyfrom the base, a front wall joined to the front edge of the base along atransverse fold line and bearing against the front edges of the sidewalls and a flap joined to the upper transverse edge of the front wallalong a transverse fold line and having a horizontal portion extendingacross the upper edges of the side walls and a retaining portion,wherein each side wall is formed with a first slot extending into itsupper edge adjacent its inclined front edge and the retaining portion ofthe flap is formed with a pair of spaced second slots in its transverseleading edge, the retaining portion of the flap being folded about atransverse fold line so as to interengage with the side walls with thesaid first slots in the side walls slotted into the said second slots inthe retaining portion to secure the retaining portion and the side wallstogether.
 2. A toboggan as claimed in claim 1 and including means forresisting withdrawal of the retaining portion of the flap from the sidewalls.
 3. A toboggan as claimed in claim 2, wherein each side wallincludes a lug folded inwardly and beneath the said horizontal portionof the flap and said means comprises means for mechanically attachingthe said lugs to the said horizontal portion of the flap.
 4. A tobogganas claimed in claim 3, wherein said means comprises two studs, each ofwhich extends through the horizontal portion of the flap and through alug to attach the horizontal portion of the flap to the lugs.
 5. Atoboggan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said first slots in the sidewalls are inclined at an angle of 45*-60* to the said longitudinal foldlines.
 6. A toboggan as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said end edgesof the side walls are curved and the front wall is correspondinglycurved.
 7. A toboggan as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffening panelis provided adjacent the front edge of each side wall and complementaryin shape with the front portion of the side wall, each stiffening panelbeing provided with a slot which interengages with the flap and eachstiffening panel being adhered to the inside face of the side wall.
 8. Atoboggan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said sheet material is asynthetic plastics extruded, corrugated material.
 9. A toboggan asclaimed in claim 8 wherein the said longitudinal fold lines are arrangedat right angles to the corrugations in the material.
 10. A tobogganformed from a unitary blank of foldable sheet material so as to comprisea substantially flat, rectangular base, two upstanding side walls joinedto the longitudinal edges of the base along longitudinal fold lines andhaving front edges inclined outwardly and forwardly of the base, a frontwall joined to the front edge of the base along a transverse fold lineand bearing against the front edges of the side walls, a lug integralwith the upper edge of each side wall adjacent the said front edgethereof and folded inwardly of the side wall, and a front flap joined tothe upper transverse edge of the front wall and folded back so as tointerengage with the side walls to retain the side walls in a spacedupright position, the width of the flap being greater than the spacingof the side walls whereby spaced portions of the flap overly therespective upper edges of the side walls, said flap portions beingmechanically attached to the said respective upper edges at said lugs.11. A toboggan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the side walls and theflap are slotted so as to interengage.
 12. A toboggan as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the said flap is attached to each lug by a stud.